Bladder-neck inserter and lacing tool



May a, 1924. 1,493,282

' v W. S. RIDDLE BLADDER NECK INSERPER AND LACING TOOL F iled May 15,1923.

12 Ill Zlawomtoz Patented May 6, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM STANLEY RIDDIIE, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

BLADDER-NECK INSERT'ER AND LAGIN'G TOO'L.

T 0 all whom it may oonoem:

. Be it known that I, WILLIAM STANLEY RIDDLE, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, and resident of the city of Seattle, in the county ofKing and Stateof Washington, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bladder-Neck Inserters and Lacing Tools, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a tool for use in preparing inflated balls, suchas footballs, basketballs, and the like, for use.

7 In inflating such balls, which have a cover of leather surrounding aninflatable rubber bladder, after the rubber bladder has been properlyand sufliciently inflated it has been found diflicult to insert theprojecting end of the inflating tube, which forms part of the bladderand which projects from the outer cover, beneath the outer cover, thatis, between this cover and thebladder. This is true because it isdiflicult to provide a space between the bladder and the cover, inopposition to the internal pressure, which is large enough for theinflating tube. It has always heretofore been necessary to force the endof the inflating tube between the bladder and the cover as well as mightbe done with the thumb or fingers, but this often resulted in a hump onthe ball at this point, and possibly injury to the tube be cause it isnot forced in far enough to protect it.

It is the object of my tool to provide means whereby a sufficient spaceis provided between the cover and bladder after the ball is inflated,and into which the inflating tube may be bent so that when the tool iswith drawn the tube will remain in the desired position between coverand bladder and where it will not produce a hump.

Application filed May 15, 1923.. Serial No. 639,115.

rangements of elements forming the tool, which are shown in theaccompanying drawings, described in the specification and particularlydefined in the claims terminating the same. 4 y

In the accompanying drawings my invention is shown in the form nowpreferred by Figure 1 is a plan view of a basketball in process of beingmade ready for use, showing my tool in position in connection therewithand showing the inflating tube bent aside beneath the cover.

Figure 2 is a cross section through such a ball on line 22 of Figure 1,showing the tool in; position relative to the ball and showing theinflating tube projecting from the slit in the cover.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the working end of the tool.

Such balls as those mentioned comprise a cover 2, slit for a distance topermit insertion of an inflatable rubber bladder 3. A protective flap 21is secured along one edge, as 24, of the slit in the cover, to liebeneath the slit and protect the underlying bladder. This flap is freeatits opposite edge, and is apertured to permit protrusion therethroughof an inflating tube 22, forming part of the bladder, and adapted toproject from the slit for ease of connection to a pump. When the ball isproperly inflated this tube 22 must be pushed aside under the edge 20 ofthe slit, between the cover 2 and the flap 21 or the bladder 3.

My tool is formed with a bifurcated end, the two tines 1 being spacedabout the distance necessary to accommodate the thumb of an ordinarypersons hand between them. These tines are of some appreciable depthback from their ends, as shown at 10. From the portion 10 the tinestaper to a fairly sharp point 12, which, however, blunted. When thepoints 12 are forced between the edge 20 of the slit in the cover 2 andthe flap 21, the portion 10 of the tines raises the edge 20suflicient-ly to enable a is slightly 7 thumb to pass beneath thisupraised edge joined in a handle 11 of any suitable shape or design. Ihave shown the end of the handle opposite the tines 1 as more or lesspointed, the purpose being to insert this end heneath the laces 23 ofthe ball and by twisting them to tighten the laces. The latteroperation, however, takes place after the tube 22 is properlypositioned. V

In order to prevent the removal of the tool accidentally, I provide ashoulder 13 which is formed on the tine 1 at about the broadest portion10 and facing away from the point 12, to engage the lower edge 24 of theslit of the cover. The internal pressure of the ball forces the cover 2outward at all points and in consequence forces the edge 24 out tomaintain it in front of the shoulder 13. lhe pressure also tends toforce the entire tine 1 upward and outward, but by the engagement of theshoulder 13 described, and by the resistance of the edge 20, this isprevented until it is desired to remove the tool.

lVhen the edge 20 has been raised as described and forced away from theflap 21 and the bladder 3 at the slit, the inflating tube 22 may beengaged by the thumb of a person and pushed beneath the edge 20 and toone side of the slit. Thereafter upon rexnoval of the tines 1 the tube22 is held in its position where it is least noticeable and T where itis best protected against injury. The laces 23 may then be tightened inthe manner described above, or otherwise, and the ball is ready for use.By means of my invention it is possible to inflate the ball to s thedesired degree prior to any attempt to protect or push aside theinflating tube 22, and it is not necessary to leave the ball soft forthe purpose of permitting this tube to be pressed beneath the cover bythe operator, unaided. This necessary task, which is gen erally a verydifficult one to accomplish, is thus rendered extremely easy ofaccomplishment.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A tool for the purpose specified, comprising a handle having'abifurcated end, the two tines thereof lying in parallel planes andsubstantially at right angles to the plane of the handle, and meansassociated with said tool for engaging an edge of V the slit in thecover of an inflated ball to V maintain the tines beneath the oppositeedge of said slit.

2. A tool for the purpose specified comprising a handle and a pair ofspaced tines at one end lying in substantially parallel planes, andtapering from a substantial breadth towards their ends one edge'of saidtines at'the point of greatest breadth lying well above the generalplane of the handle.

7 3. A tool for thepurpose specified comprising a handle and a pair ofspacedtines at one end lying in substantially parallel planes, andtapering from a substantial breadth towards their ends, and a webconnecting said tines, the web being recessed ing a pair of spaced tinesat one end lying in substantiallyparallel planes, and tapering from asubstantial breadth towards their ends, and shoulders facing away fromthe points of said tines and positioned at'about the greatest breadth ofthe tines.

Signed at Seattle, King County, Washington, this 9th day of May, 192?WILLIAM STANLEY RIDDLE.

